May 2009

May 31, 2009

Tim worked in the garden with some help.We ate from the garden - arugula in our salad and herbs used with some oil on toasted baguette slices - mmmm. . . It was a good eating weekend for sure.After a short break I'm feeling the urge to knit and sew again.I'm working on a picnic blanket which I should be finishing up in the next day or two so I'll be able to share photos soon.

May 28, 2009

May 27, 2009

Every spring, just as we are beginning to really enjoy the warm weather and outside time, we are driven inside by the seeds of an enormous Cottonwood tree that stands in the backyard of a house two doors down. When the wind blows, these cottony seeds float through the air and find their way into your nose and mouth as if they are the perfect place to grow a tree.

Miles and Ben, determined to be undeterred by these seeds, took their lunch outside only to be chased in shortly afterward. Thankfully, this only lasts about a week and once we get a nice rainstorm, the worst of it seems to pass.

May 25, 2009

I went to see her again even though she doesn’t know who I am. I drove an hour with two small children on a beautiful day to sit across from her as a complete stranger. I do it because I love her and because showing up is the only way I know how to tell her. She doesn’t understand the words or the feelings behind them, she doesn’t know anymore how important she is to me but I show up and I sit next to her. This weekend my dad’s side of the family had a reunion. In this simple act of showing up we honored a grandmother we never knew and said we love you to these people, our family.

It’s easy really, just showing up. If you think about it too long it can seem difficult and even impossible. But the act itself of showing up is an easy one. Just letting go and showing up.Showing up and standing next to someone. Showing up and being there when they catch a fish. I will show up and in this way say I love you.

May 21, 2009

Miles came home from school today and all he could talk
about were the rockets they blasted off. He asked me all afternoon if we could
do it and said I should just look it up on the computer for how to do it (this
is always his solution to every question or problem we have). He had all of the
mechanics down it was just the ingredients we needed help with. So, I called
his teacher and we found out how to make rockets at home. So, after dinner we
did just that and I think we all enjoyed it. Here is how to do: Call your local shop that does film processing and ask if they have any Fuji film canisters. They should have these laying around and will just give them to you. Then add equal parts baking powder and water. Fill the canister about a 1/4 of the way with the baking powder, then fill it about 1/2 way with water. Quickly put the cap on it, turn it upside down and walk away. Miles forgot the last part about walking away and got it in the face. Luckily the cap missed him...

May 20, 2009

It was warm and the air was dry so the laundry seemed to dry as soon as I hung it. Unfortunately, I think I got my first farmer's tan of the season. It's hard to believe that you need sunscreen just to hang laundry.Making Japanese Cabbage Salad.Miles caught up in his imagination during Ben's nap.The teepee now resides in this corner of our yard which I think is a great place for it.Tim got the garden planted and so far so good - the walls have kept the kids out of it. They enjoy helping him water it every night too. I'm salivating just thinking of the arugula growing here.

May 19, 2009

As is the case with most families, I am the one behind the camera most of the time. I find that all of our pictures are of the kids and mostly that’s because they’re so darned cute – it’s hard not to focus on them most of the time. Well after seeing a photo challenge on Flickr I decided to make a change. I’m focusing the camera on me at least once a day for 365 days! It sounds impossible, but I’m going to give it a go. I expect that this challenge will allow me to grow not only as a photographer but also creatively and personally.

Most of us don’t like to have our pictures taken but this will force me to get in front of it and face myself.It was nice to see myself with Miles and see us having fun together. It was also nice to see a photo of me and my husband. I knew we had good chemistry but when I looked at the photo it was almost tangible. See, I'm learning things about myself already.

May 17, 2009

May 15, 2009

I thought Miles looked so cute in this shirt that I followed him around all day with a camera. Don’t you just want to eat him up?Ever since their dad took them to Lowes and bought wood for the garden border they’ve been wood obsessed and have various “projects” going. I believe they are building a bridge here. They even went into the garage and got these enormous q-tip looking things (not sure what they really are, I’d have to ask Tim) to put in between the boards. Ben was so meticulous about it and worked with so much concentration he had his tongue out. From what I hear this is a family trait on Tim’s side but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen my dad do the same thing so this kid doesn’t have a chance.The garden is being worked on in brief spurts. Gardening is Tim’s thing so he only has after work and weekends to work on it. By this weekend it should be completely planted.Both of the men that live next door have motorcycles which Ben is obsessed with. If hears a loud motor he goes directly to the fence and peaks through, hoping to catch a glimpse of them.